Virginia Highlands: Orme Park Bridge and Brook

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Elkmont and Brookridge Intersect

Elkmont and Brookridge Intersect

In a North Eastern Virginia Highlands Neighborhood on a cool afternoon, the intersection of two streets part Elkmont drive and Brookridge drive creating a stone bridge to allow passage over a  streaming brook. Along this brook, which flows underneath and perpendicular to the bridge is a wooded area that stretches 4000 feet in length and 700 feet in width.  Within this wooded area  and occasionally along the stream are eroded exposures of dirt that form paths that fork and contour the vast majority of the wooded area. The perimeter of the woods on all sides is where the forest floor rises anywhere from 50-75 feet above its lowest central point to become flush with the cemented roads that connect to form the bridge. The culmination of these landmarks afford a secluded and sunken in park that is hidden from street level and made generally unnoticeable to the naked eye.
The Bridge/Entrance
The bridge is roughly 100 feet long and 40 feet wide. On both sides of the awning where the bridge begins to incline upward from the road to clear the body of water underneath , black cast iron railings line the cliff above the brook parallel to the length of the crossing. The bars run vertically from the ground and are spaced 6 inches apart from each other. They are coated with a layer of paint that is beginning to chip away from weathering. Directly in front and parallel to these railings is a concrete wall on both sides that supports the bridge from underneath. This wall is grey and rough in texture. It is scattered with yellow and brown leaves that have fallen from the canopy of trees overhead.  The wall stretches the length of the bridge to reinforce the metal bars that support the bridge as well as prevent objects from falling over the sides of the awning. At the ends of the walls where the bridge reconnects to the street, they raise to form pillars roughly 11 feet in height.  Atop these pillars are small stone carvings of floral designs.  These structures are covered with a consistent film of moss. Within these walls are cobbled paths on both sides of the bridge. The cobble stones are burgundy and brown squares that vary randomly along the path. At both ends of the bridge are two thin metal red octagonal fixtures atop metal beams that read “STOP” in capital white letters.

Under The Bridge

Under the bridge is a solid cement structure that arks from the shore of both sides the stream to allow for water to flow.  This structure creates a tunnel with a flush curved ceiling 25 feet off of the ground. Standing directly below the bridge at the entrance to the tunnel the soft rush of the water can be heard as it makes contact with a collection of smooth stones at the basin of the stream.  The stream of water is constant and calm as if the source of water is steady and abundant.  The rocks and stones that are submerged in the water are smooth and grey in color and have the occasional glimmer to them from a combination of the minerals within the stone and the reflection of the sun in the water.  In the distance birds can be heard as they jump and flutter their wings between the young leaves and branches of the trees closer to the forest floor.  The ground immediately around the stream before the entrance to the tunnel is a rich dark color and is softer than the surrounding areas. As water erodes the dirt closer to the shore of the river, roots from the trees are exposed from underneath the soil. Directly along the inside walls of the tunnel are ledges that protrude one or two feet out from the wall itself to allow passage by foot.  The inside walls and the floor of the tunnel are scattered with colorful images that have been painted on.  These contain partially legible symbols and the entirety of these designs form a collection of messages inside the tunnel.  Looking up from either entrance to the tunnel, the pillars on the concrete wall lining the bridge can be seen above.

The Trail Through The Park

Turning away from the tunnel to face the majority of the park, the area is vastly natural plant life.  Trees of different ages stem from the forest floor to reach towards the light of the sun.  Smaller shrubs and bushes entangle themselves within the trunks and branches of lower hanging trees.  Vague movement can be seen within the brush as wildlife interacts within the leaves.  This movement along with a light breeze causes the leaves of trees to brush and create a whispering sound throughout the area.  A small path is afforded by erosion, both from rain fall and the traversing of wildlife and visitors.  The path exposes the bare earth consisting of dried exposed roots from bordering trees, as well as fine dry dusty dirt that is loose and a washed tan color.  This path circuits the inner park almost entirely, making its way through the lighter groupings of trees and bushes.  Every forty yards or so, a  wooden bench is placed along the outer edge of the path as well as a fork in the path allowing exit from the wooded enclosure. Each bench  is made from pieces of wood that have been painted green but are chipping away due to exposure to the elements.  The benches are faced inward towards the center of the park and a bench may be randomly painted with a message of symbols or text.

 

Orme Park Sign/Exit

After the trail around the park completes it’s semi circuit, it will exit upwards to street level.  At the floor of the exit from within the park, the ground turns from natural forest floor to a paved light stone platform.  The platform has a set of three stairs to accommodate the transition from natural dirt to paved ground.  The stones on the platform are a light color with slightly darker accents throughout.  When arriving at the top of the small flight of stairs and facing the street with the woods behind, the ground is decorated with square a stone tile with a design on it’s face.  The design is of an Oak Tree within a leaf.  Also within the leaf design and under the oak tree is the phrase “Orme Park”.  To the right of this floor design and further along the exiting paved platform is a four foot high grey stone wall with another  design on it’s street facing side.  This design is a square sign that reads in large dark letters “Orme-Park”.  Under this phrase in smaller thinner letters reads, “Virginia Highland City of Atlanta.”

The paved stone path forks into two exits that border the park and the surrounding road

The paved stone path forks into two exits that border the park and the surrounding road

A stone paved along the exiting path reads "Orme Park"

A stone paved along the exiting path reads “Orme Park”

Orme Dot Park

Orme Dot Park

A weathered bench reads "Free"

A weathered bench reads “Free”

A path runs through and along the wooded areas surrounding the bridge and tunnel.

A path runs through and along the wooded areas surrounding the bridge and tunnel.

Symbols and texts are painted onto the interior walls

Symbols and texts are painted onto the interior walls

The tunnel where man made meets the elements ofnature

The tunnel where man made meets the elements of nature

The Bridge here allows passage over the small body of water underneath

The Bridge here allows passage over the small body of water underneath

 

Elkmont and Brookridge Intersect

Elkmont and Brookridge Intersect

Inman Park Experience

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Travelers are warned of the dog behind a gated fence on their way in or out of the neighborhood.

Travelers are warned of the dog behind a gated fence on their way in or out of the neighborhood.

The houses immediately surrounding the exit to the train station are lined with metal fences and vegetation.

The houses immediately surrounding the exit to the train station are lined with metal fences and vegetation.

A Sign on the corner of Hardee street and Walthalll street reads, "STOP"

A Sign on the corner of Hardee street and Walthalll street reads, “STOP”

These Stairs are the only access point from the train station to the enclosed community.

These Stairs are the only access point from the train station to the enclosed community.

The residential street dead ends into the parking lot of the Inman Park Train Station.

The residential street dead ends into the parking lot of the Inman Park Train Station.

Grafitti accompanies the directional signs on this Inman Park Intersection

Grafitti accompanies the directional signs on this Inman Park Intersection

On an overcast Friday morning I traveled to visit a small section of the Inman park community in east Atlanta. This neighborhood has much historical value to the city of Atlanta and is the home to a number of local residents that enjoy the small and quiet kept suburban community just on the outskirts of downtown Atlanta. I visited the corner of hardee street and walthall street to observe the environment and how it communicates. The intersection of these two streets are riddled with wild vegetation at different stages in their life which caused for a variance of colors between bright greens and yellows and dull browns. Birds can be heard chirping in the trees as well as the occasional rustle of leaves from an active squirrel. In the distance the sound of the local freight yard can be heard as train cars mount and dismount tracks. Along with that the low hum of the kneeling Marta bus can be heard as it waits for commuters to board. The sporadic chirp of crickets and cicadas can be heard from deep within the brush surrounding the four way intersection. The smells of the area are slightly industrious as they mostly entail vehicle exhaust but a steady breeze occasionally brings the smell of oven cooked pizza. The road is paved with a weathered grey concrete that is occasionally stained with oil or tire marks from the cars that commute the neighborhood. The intersection is a three way stop and under the street signs “hardee st ne” and “walthall st ne”are stop signs as well as “no parking” signs. On the back of these signs and along the beams supporting them are graffiti tags with abstract and unorthodox writing. The messages are unclear and illegible. On one of the corners of the intersection where the sidewalk meets the curb there is a ramp made to allow persons with disabilities to cross the street. These ramps are painted yellow and have been weathered over time by commuters. On any given corner of the four way intersection is a one story home with an enclosed front porch. A small flight of stairs allows direct access from the Inman park train station to Wathall street. The trail from the station to the neighborhood is defined in combination by the concrete sidewalk paved along the left side of walthall street and the cast iron fences establishing the beginning of people’s homes along the road. All of the homes in the immediate vicinity of the train station exit are fenced in and gated. The closest home to the entrance of the train station has signs that warn trespassers to beware of dog. As soon as Walthall street begins in the direction away from the train station cars can be found parked along the right side of the road. Young trees line either side of the road in the area between the street and the sidewalk and power lines leading from all directions entangle themselves with the branches of these trees just above natural eye level. Occasionally someone will come from hardee or walthall street to the train station by foot and they can be heard walking and talking on their phone or listening to music. The neighborhood is home to a combination of hustle and bustle commuters as well as quiet kept introverts.

Photos by me.